Bromeliad plant named ‘GUZ 226’

ABSTRACT

A Bromelaid hybrid having intense red purple bracts and an appearance similar to that of of the European hybrid ‘Amaranth’ but lighter in color and smaller in size.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This application relates to a newly developed interspecific hybridGuzmania plant resulting from a planned breeding program that I conducton an ongoing basis. The objects of the breeding program include thecrossing of selected parent plants from the numerous, compatible specieswithin the genus, to obtain plants with novel and attractive phenotypes,coloration, and flowering forms. Other important selection factors mayinclude ultimate plant size and shape, disease resistance, tolerance todifferent soil and growing conditions and vigor.

Among the objects of my program are to produce plants of theBromelaiceae family which will be attractive to the consumer; which willdevelop reasonably rapidly under controlled conditions, and which retainfor a long term, highly attractive and bright inflorescence; i.e., bractcoloration, after being induced into the flowering stage. It is aspecific object to provide a low maintenance plant which will be a longterm decorative appointment offering an exotic color splash in the homeof a buyer, or to serve as a substitute for flowering plants which havea shorter flowering duration in, for example, indoor plant and flowerscapes. Finally, it is an object to develop plants which may be easilyand efficiently multiplied by state-of-the-art tissue culture methodswhile continuing the distinctive characteristics of the plants throughprogressive clonal generations.

The plant of this disclosure was a selection from the progeny resultingfrom the cross of a seed parent Guzmania ‘Dominica’ (unpatented) with apollen parent Guzmania wittmackii ‘Pink’ (unpatented). With therecognition that this seedling from the cross satisfied the objects ofthe breeding program, the individual was isolated and set aside forfurther observation and testing. The resulting selection has beenassigned the designation ‘GUZ 226’ for purposes of identification. Thisplant has been reproduced by tissue culture at Evergem Belgium, and theclonal specimens resulting have been determined to be identical to theoriginal selection in all distinguishing characteristics. The superiorattributes of this plant will be revealed in the botanical descriptionsto follow.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The attributes of the Guzmania hybrid designated as ‘GUZ 226’, whichdistinguish it from the other similar Guzmania hybrids are described asfollows:

The pollen parent brings a tall columnar growth habit, large spacesbetween the scape bracts, and a bract that has a medium pink-red-purplecoloration. The seed parent is smaller and more compact than the pollenparent. The spaces between the scape bracts of the seed parent are muchsmaller, and the bract color is a medium red-purple. The resultantseedling is between the two parents in size, more compact than eitherand with intense red-purple bracts. The seedling resembles the Europeanhybrid ‘Amaranth’ (unpatented) but without the dark purple-violet colorof ‘Amaranth’. It is somewhat smaller and appears to be more diseaseresistant than Guzmania ‘Amaranth’. ‘GUZ 226’ is relatively fastgrowing, reaching marketability in less than two years from a 1″ plant.It remains in good color for 12 to 14 weeks under interior lightconditions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The single color photograph of the drawing depicts a mature specimen ofthe plant in mid to late flowering stage. The age of the observed plantis 24 months. The plant was grown under greenhouse conditions in coastalsouthern California. Observations were made at mid afternoon in July.Illustrated are the mature leaves, scape bract and primary bract. Thecolor definitions in the specification have been taken from The R.H.S.Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society. The colors depicted arebelieved to be of a high level of color fidelity and are believed to beas close to the actual coloration of the plant as possible in aphotographic illustration of this quality. However, due to factors suchas light reflectance, cultural conditions and horticultural practices,the coloration of this plant should be understood to be approximate. Forexample, the bract color might slightly fade if the plant is subjectedto bright light and the leaf color may vary depending on the compositionand the concentration of fertilizer which may be applied to the plant.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

Genus and species: Guzmania hybrid.

Parentage:

Seed parent.—Guzmania ‘Dominica’.

Pollen parent.—Guzmania wittmackii ‘Pink’.

Propagation: Method of Asexual Reproduction — Tissue Culture. Wherereproduction took place: Reginald De Roose BVBA DROOGTE 139, B9940Evergem, Belgium.

Plant:

Type-monocot perennial.—Diploid.

General characteristics.—Medium in size: Overall height from soilincluding inflorescence — 16″ to 18″. Overall width — 29″ to 31″.

Habit.—Spreading and open. Vase formed. Hardiness at temperatures below32° F.: tender.

Leaves:

Number.—16-19.

Medium in size.—Length 18″-20″; Width: 1¼″ to 1½″ (mid length).

Shape.—Lanceolate; tip acuminate and narrowly pointed.

Surface texture.—Smooth.

Thickness.—Medium.

Margin.—Smooth. Apetiolate.

Coloration.—RHS 137-B in color obverse and reverse, some faint strainingRHS 61-A in color obverse and reverse, particularly on upper leaves.Upper leaves also colored RHS 67-C at the base fading to RHS 67-Dhalfway to the apex. The remainder of the color is RHS 137-B to theapex. Some longitudinal plication occurs particularly on upper leaves ofsome plants at anthesis.

Inflorescence a branched spike.—Overall inflorescence is 8.5″ to 9.5″and 14″-16″ tall.

Scape bracts:

Size.—5¾″×1¼″ to 2″×¾″×1″ at apex, (Width measured at midlength). Shape:Ovate, narrowly acuminate, clasping, margin is entire. Number: 10-12.Color: RHS 64-A obverse and reverse.

Surface texture.—Smooth.

Primary bracts:

Size.—2½″×{fraction (9/16)}″ (measured at midlength). Lanceolate inshape broadly acute, margin is entire. Color: RHS 67-B obverse andreverse, somewhat translucent at tip.

Surface texture.—Smooth.

Floral buds: Tubular, gamosepalous.

Size.—2.5″ long by 1″ wide.

Color.—9D.

Form.—Tubular.

Sepals.—3 in number. Size — 0.75 long. Color — 61B.

Petals.—Size — 1.25″ long by ⅛ wide.

Flowers: Morphology as for Guzmania. Clusters glomerule. Apetiolate,scarcely open at anthesis. Medium in size — 2.5″ long by 1″ wide. Sepals1¼″×¼″ translucent, 3 in number; acuminate. Petals 1½″×1¼″ translucent;color paler than RHS 155-D; 3 in number; joined 1″ from base;gamopetalous. Corolla — cylindrical.

Reproductive organs:

Stamens.—5 in number. Anthers: Color: 1C. Length: ⅛″. Filaments: Color:2D. Length: ¼″.

Pollen.—Color: 1D.

Pistil.—Number: 1. Color: 2D.

Style.—Length: {fraction (11/16)}″.

Ovaries.—Superior, enclosed in calyx, 3 locules.

Fruit: A three celled capsule splitting longitudinally when mature,Seeds with pappus-seeds not viable.

Resistance to disease and pests: None observed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Guzmania plantnamed ‘GUZ 226’ as illustrated and described herein.